Thursday, December 3, 1998 Published at 16:39 GMTWorld: South AsiaHindu militants stage lesbian film attacksThe media were told of the protest in advanceHindu extremists in India have continued their attacks on cinemas
showing a controversial film centred on a lesbian relationship.

"We do all these things according to our social system - where it
is done between a man and a woman after marriage - but the film is trying to
show something that deviates from this line and it will send a wrong message to
the society."

Fire tells the story of two sisters-in-law trapped in loveless
marriages who develop an emotional - and eventually physical relationship.

The film had already been showing in India for three weeks before the wave of violent protests began.

'Cultural terrorism'

Police in Delhi say they have
begun making arrests and that they will prevent further attacks.

But some cinema owners are not taking any chances and have stopped showing the film for fear of further trouble.

Deepa Mehta: Film not made to shock

Film-makers in Bombay, India's cinema capital, have condemned what they called "cultural terrorism" and called for protection from the authorities.

The movie's Canadian-based director Deepa Mehta, has defended the public's right to see her work without fear of intimidation.

"Fire has gone through the Indian censors without one cut," she said.

"So, you know, I
think that let's not under-estimate the Indian audience. I didn't make the
film to shock people. I made the film because I wanted to make the film."